Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you use my link to make a purchase, it helps to support this site.

You know what I love to receive as gifts?  Gift cards!! With a gift card, I get to choose what I want.  So dear readers, for your Christmas in July gift, you have a chance to win a $100 CVS gift card courtesy of the CVS PR team.  That way, you can choose what you want, too! [Read more…]

Disclaimer: Welcome to the Tropical Traditions giveaway and good luck!  Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.   If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.

Baby boys always seem to get the raw end of the deal in the hospital nursery.  Girls get all dolled up with headbands and bows.  In fact, the nurses in the neonatal unit used KY jelly to “glue” a tiny bow to my daughter’s head.  The only thing that can signify a boy’s gender is usually the color blue.  Thing have changed, friends.  Now even infants can partake in the mustache trend that has taken over our country.  I received a sample of the  mustache pacifier and couldn’t stop laughing when I saw this picture.  Take a peek at the Mustachifier — one of the cutest, funniest things I’ve seen in a LONG time.

Tee hee.

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Disclosure: I received a sample from to facilitate this post. The opinions shared here are 100% mine. If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.

Remember the chain letters that you used to pass around and receive as a kid?  The ones that demanded that you give 20 copies out (or in the 21st century, forward to 20 friends) or bad luck would follow you like an albatross for the rest of your days?   Well, I just conquered the food variety of a chain letter. [Read more…]

Disclosure:  I was given a copy of this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Alzheimer’s runs in my family. At times my heart gets a little heavy with the worry that someday it may claim me, too. Even now, my memory fails me when I try to remember things from my childhood. There are a few glimpses of my past that come to mind, but it’s disheartening when I cannot remember simple things like the name of my friends from high school or what color my bike was. Those seem like things I should be able to recall with clarity. Sometimes I worry that my children won’t know much about my past because by the time they’re old enough to really care about my childhood, I will have forgotten it all. When I read Once Upon a Time: Discovering Our Forever After Story by Debbie Macomber, it inspired me to take a few moments to write down some things from my life.  Since life is fleeting and we’re not guaranteed a tomorrow, it’s important that my children have access to their own stories even if I’m not here to physically tell them. [Read more…]

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Made in the USA Giveaway Hop. This event is hosted by Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project together with the Green Moms Network!  Each blogger in this event is working hard to bring you awesome prizes that are Made in the USA and valued at $25+; it’s our way of celebrating Independence Day!  After entering my giveaway, be sure to visit the other blogs listed under the Rafflecopter form for your chance to win more great giveaways.

Our sponsor for this event is Trucker’s Friend. [Read more…]

Being a teachers kid is a bittersweet experience. My kids get educational gifts for most birthdays. There’s no way to opt out of homework when your mom is a teacher. Your world is filled with all of your mom’s friends watching your every move.  Vacations are often filled with sightseeing of historical places and reading lots of literature.  Teaching is the best job in the world for a mom though. Most of the time my schedule is just perfect for being part of my kids’ lives. Although the last week of summer is usually the pits for them because they have to suffer through a sitter (or worse, in my classroom) while I am at inservice. The rest of the year they are home with me on breaks and holiday. One bonus for my kids is that I love educational websites and techie toys, so they get to enjoy those on a frequent basis. All of my friends are iPad junkies but I couldn’t bring myself to spend the money on one. For once, my procrastination paid off.  For a little while, at least. [Read more…]